List Netiquette RFCs (Yes, they exist!)

From: Roger Merchberger <zmerch_at_30below.com>
Date: Thu Feb 24 13:10:43 2005

Rumor has it that Computer Collector Newsletter may have mentioned these words:
>Sorry everyone -- that was supposed to be a private reply to Jay.

Oops... ;-)

>LOL, but now that it's out there ... I assume 'top post' has something to do
>with where the replies are vs. the original message ...

Correct.

> like this one for
>example. Then again, it's not like I'm a list newbie, yet I've never seen
>this
>complaint before.

That's because we're generally a kind sort... we'd rather argue about guns,
carburetors, explosives... ;-)

>Since everyone uses their email differently, I think it's pretty silly for
>someone to say that his own preferred method is right, and that other methods
>are frowned on.

However, you say that as if it's solely a 'preference' -> and not an
'Internet Standard.' There *is* an RFC about email Netiquette: RFC 1855.

http://www.faqs.org/rfcs/rfc1855.html

Specifically, section 3.1.1 part 10:

- If you are sending a reply to a message or a posting be sure you
   summarize the original at the top of the message, or include just
   enough text of the original to give a context. This will make
   sure readers understand when they start to read your response.
   Since NetNews, especially, is proliferated by distributing the
   postings from one host to another, it is possible to see a
   response to a message before seeing the original. Giving context
   helps everyone. But do not include the entire original!

=-=-=-=-=

Please take into account: 1) I'm not trying to take sides, become a 'list
overlord' (That's Jay's Job! ;-) or start [yet another] flamewar. I'm just
pointing out there's a lot more to it than just preference and there
actually is good logical reasoning behind the top-post vs. inline post vs.
bottom post vs. psychic post vs. ad nauseum post replying methods.

Laterz,
Roger "Merch" Merchberger

P.S. the method of 'top posting' has a tendency for the 'replier' to not
notice they're not trimming their replies - including your 9-line sig that
you replied from yourself with and left it in both times...
;-) It's along the same lines of: "Be Kind To Jay" and all that, of which,
might I say, you shouldn't be feigning naivete'...

--
Roger "Merch" Merchberger   | Anarchy doesn't scale well. -- Me
zmerch_at_30below.com.         |
SysAdmin, Iceberg Computers
Received on Thu Feb 24 2005 - 13:10:43 GMT

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